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Matahari Grill
Category: Restaurants Malaysian Malaysian [Edit]
39 Baldwin StToronto, ON M5T 1L1
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 596-2832
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
19 reviews for Matahari Grill
19 reviews in English
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Review from Emma G.
Toronto, ON
1/7/2011
I've been going to Matahari for a few years for its laksa soup which is the best laksa in Toronto/the best I've ever had anywhere.You can get it "vegetarian" (thee base is still a shrimp paste..) with tofu and veggies.
The Nasi Lemak is also DELICIOUS. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the anchovy dish is SO good and I've never found anything else like it in Toronto.
Definitely order the coconut rice if it doesn't come with your order- it is fantastic. The appetizer combo platter is also a good sampler.
The only reason why I didn't choose 5 stars is because the last time I was there a few days ago, the food didn't come out piping hot as I would have liked, and the first dish I ordered (a vegetarian tempeh dish) wasn't available! (?!?!)
I go to Baldwin for Gateways of India and Matahari..but now since Gateways has closed, Matahari is definitely the best spot. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
10/26/2011 5 photos
Matahari Grill is our 2nd stop for our Baldwin Food Crawl.
Love the decor, chic, dark and romantic (definitely not good for photo taking!)
Though without reservations, we got seated right away at one of the tables at the back of the restaurant.
We just want a taste of the menu so ended up ordering:
Eggplant Malay ($10) - grilled eggplant appetizer
Char Kway Teow ($15) - stired fried flat rice noodle in dark soy sauce
Nasi Lemak ($15) - Malaysian Coconut Rice went really well with the savoury Anchovy
All nicely done, but just lack that wow factor. Though I requested spicy but none of the dishes were spicy enough to make my Yelp Friends sweat!
Prices while definitely on the pricey side, though in line with the area restaurants. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
11/4/2011
Eggplant Malay($10.00) Nasi Lemak($15.00) Char Kway Teow($15.00)
A reason I continue to dine at Malaysian restaurants is a favourite drink.
Matahari Grill has an extensive Drinks/Wines list but... WTF.
Teh Tarik is nowhere to be found on the Menu. WHY
(automatic-deduction -0.5 star) 2.5'd
I had a hard time reasoning 10 dollars for Eggplant Malay, I'm weird.
Eggplants go up in market-value lately? Got to keep an eye on them.
I didn't find any dishes standing out in particular, it could be expectations.
At the same time, we had lots of good conversation time amongst Friends.
Not necessarily good-thing meaning Food served slowly for cuisine type. -
Review from Mel L.
9/14/2011
Went to Matahari Grill for lunch and I'm torn between giving 3 and 4 stars, so I guess I'd say it's a 3.5. The food is good for Toronto Malaysian food - I'd say slightly better than Restoran Malaysia in Richmond Hill - but I still find it a bit expensive for what you're getting (lunch entrees for around $12+tax+tip) and the service was slow, particularly for lunch time. We ended up taking 1.5 hours for three people at a 1pm lunch. Our server also wasn't particularly professional; we had a hard time understanding him and he often left our table with us wondering if we were going to get our water, or exactly what was in a certain dish, etc. Food-wise, we tried some different curries and the nasi lamek, which all seemed authentic and tasted good.
Things that would make Matahari Grill a definite four star: if it was either cheaper, had better service, or if the food was better (obv - that would make it five star!). As it stands, Matahari Grill is like eating overpriced fast food at table-clothed tables. That being said, it was good enough that I would return at least once more, particularly to check out the beef rendang for dinner because it's not on their lunch menu. -
Review from Carla D.
Toronto, ON
4/4/2011 3 photos
Matahari Grill gets a 3.5 for me. I've been here a couple of times, a few years apart but I definitely intend on returning much sooner. My first time dining here was at lunch on a weekday and second was during dinner. Both were very different experiences ambiance and service-wise. Service at lunch was fast as it was busy. Dinner service (it was a Friday night) was rather slow, though we were there for a special occasion and rather enjoyed the low lighting the relaxed vibe. Definitely though, there is a lack of consistency with the level of service.
As for the food, I've enjoyed pretty much everything I have ever ordered here. I've had their spicy eggplant appetizer and their famous beef rendang during both visits and both times have enjoyed them immensely. I'm a creature of habit and have a difficult time veering from menu favourites but have made a conscious effort to try some of the other menu items next time. While the crepe dessert is so-so. it's hard to pass up as the sweet pandan leaf flavour nicely rounds out your meal.
Matahari ranks as a fave for me when it comes to restaurants that serve South East Asian cuisine here in Toronto (not that my list is very extensive though, to begin with). If their service improved, I'd definitely be there more often and recommending it a bit more to friends. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Being an Indonesian in Toronto, I'm constantly bemoaning the lack of Indonesian restaurants in the area. Since there are a lot of Malaysian dishes that cross over, it provides enough of a similarity that I'll turn to Malay cuisine to get my comfort food fix. Unfortunately, the food at Matahari Grill is just a'ight -- the food, though fairly authentic, just doesn't deliver the punch of good Malaysian cooking.
First, the service is quite slow, and the servers tend not to come by of their own accord -- you've got to flag them down for stuff like water, drink orders, and entree orders. You know, all the usual stuff that servers do. :/
Also, the proper answer to the question, "what wines are blended in this wine you're offering called 'The Procrastinator'?" is NOT "pinot noir and a couple of other things, I'm no sure." -- and then giving me a blank face, andthen not offering to find out what the answer to the question is. Just saying.
Anyway. My 6 dining companions and I split a couple of Sate Ayam (chicken skewers) appetizers, which was pretty good, but skimpy on the peanut sauce. I also had the Soto Ayam (chicken soup) to start, which should have been more accurately called Chicken Tom Yum, because that's what the broth tasted like. The soup had a hot and sour flavor, and none of the turmeric color or taste that makes Soto Ayam its own distinct dish. Huge fail.
My Mee Goreng (fried noodles with shrimp, vegetables and tofu) entree was a little bit better. It was spicy and flavorful, but the noodles were thicker than what's typically used, and on the mushy side. Meh.
For dessert, my companions and I split the Bananas Matahari (essentially fried bananas with caramel sauce and whipped cream), and the Sago-Sago (tapioca pearls with palm sugar and coconut cream), both of which were quite good. The Sago-Sago has a different kind of sweetness, not sugary but more earthy sweet... and who doesn't love tapioca balls? :)
The decor is a little bizarre. I don't care for the giant platitudes on the walls, but... whatever.
In sum, Matahari Grill is a fair introduction to Malaysian/Indonesian cuisine for the uninitiated, but for those familiar with the dishes and tastes, it'll end up being a disappointment. Compounded with the underperforming service, it'll probably be awhile 'till I make my way back to Matahari. -
Review from Mochi M.
3/10/2011
It used to be good. WHAT HAPPENED?
Long story short, take the trek up to Restoran Malaysia instead.
It will be a longer drive, and perhaps WAY out of your way (you will need a car, no TTC), but it is TRUE Malaysian fare for cheaper!!!!!
http://www.restoranmal...
The food is not authentic, the curry is lackluster (no flavour at all), the Beef Rendang is too soft (some might like that), and lacks in flavour.
The rice is too mushy (they overcooked it and added too much water), and this is just not what I consider to be good Malaysian food.
The only good thing on the menu was the satay, but even that, I was not sold.
The desserts were okay though. Sago Sago and the Pandan Crepe was all right, but not for $8 each. I'd say $5 each considering that it isn't THAT amazing.
I also find the restaurant too dark (so sue me, I don't like to strain my eyes) and the service was slow and awful.
The head manager (Indian I think he said he was), was on his cellphone the entire time, ignored us, didn't fill our water glasses in a timely manner, and the food just took too darn long.
I don't think they prepared a proper mise en place to be ready to serve the food fast, and there wasn't Roti Canai or any other delicious meals I'm used to having in Toronto.
For $90 for 2, we didn't feel happy or full, and I wish I had just eaten some cheap pho instead of wasting money on that meal.
I'm so disappointed, I will never go back there again. -
Review from Joanne W.
Updated - 9/1/2010 ROTD 9/24/2010
So my friend and I were walking around Baldwin Village - and you know when you get to the point where it's like "Man, I've been to every single restaurant here... okay, time to re-try something?" Yeah - so that was me yesterday.
Last time I went to Matahari Grill was literally three years ago. The first time I went, it really detered me due to the service. So I decided to give it one more try just to see how it goes.
The ambiance in this place is nice. Small and chic. Giant writing with a quote that makes me smile. My friend ordered the Mee Goreng, and I had the Nasi Lemak. My friend couldn't finish her Mee Goreng (but then again, she's a tiny little Asian girl, so I wasn't surprised). The Nasi Lemak was great considering that it was coconut rice, with shrimp, dried anchovies, achar-char and egg (a little bti of everything). It wasn't too spicy, and I was able to finish a great portion of the dish.
The service though was questionable. I know I can't say that they have poor service due tot their accents; however, I was not impressed by their quick service here and there. While my friend was trying to decide between two items (for less than a minute), the waiter walked away. Not only this, when we were paying, we wanted to give them a $100 bill, and he asked if we had credit cards, since they didn't have cash on hand. I found that a little bit strange, but in the end, we pushed them to give us our change in cash.
Overall, food was really good - but service was very very poor. If you want great Malaysian food with great service, head to Restoran Malay up north. It's much better.Listed in: OMNOMNOMs in Baldwin Village, OMNOMNOM malaysian cuisine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2010
Had the achar-achar, and it was quite good. However, the service here was horrible. Even though we… Read more »
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Review from OJ B.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2011
I think Matahari earned a 3.5 - 4 rating overall for me.
We had a craving for Indonesian food, left by our honeymoon earlier this year. We recently stopped at a nice place in NYC, and thought it was time to give Matahari a try for something close to home.
To recapture our adventures, we ordered Mee Goreng and Nasi Goreng. this was the first time we have had it that they were vastly different, usually there's a few differences, but they still had a similar vibe. The Nasi Goreng (rice) was good basic fare, and was pretty much in keeping with what we had all over Indonesia. The Mee Goreng (noodles), however, was in a much spicier kind of Thai chili/BBQ sauce. It was quite tasty, if not what we were expecting. Going back to the Nasi Goring left it a little bland in comparison, but it was a nice contrast regardless.
The service was good, no complaints there. The restaurant itself could possibly use some upgrades, most notably in the washroom area, but I won't hold that against it. The prices might be a little high, but compared to what? If the only other place I can get decent Nasi Goreng is a 40 minute drive away, that puts it in perspective and I'll gladly pay the extra couple of dollars. As far as I'm aware there isn't anywhere in the city to get pure Indonesian these days anyway, so this blend of Indo and Malay(?) will fit the bill.
Overall a good dinner out, and a good experience. -
Review from Micki M.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2010
The Matahari is a good date spot - dark, cozy, quiet, trendy....and not too expensive, so you can pick up the full bill and not regret it the next day.
I recommend ordering a serving of rice/coconut rice for each person, then choosing a few items to share (much the way we eat Chinese food). The plates are so flavorful, and the curry's so saucy that one dish- although delicious- is a bit of an overload for one person.
The coconut rice is perfection - it is not sweetened so it is more mild than the Thai style and easier to eat with your entree without feeling like you're dipping into dessert early.
I tried the mango and chicken stir-fry. Had it not been snowing that night, I'm certain the mango-chicken combination could have transported me to a white sand beach kilometers away!
If we crave Malaysian food again, this will likely be our choice, however it was not so phenomenal that I will make it a weekly or even monthly stop. -
Review from Denise M.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2010
One of the GTA's few Malaysian restaurants and definitely worth checking out. Ordered four dishes to split with friends and everyone agreed that each was just as delicious. Some of the highlights were plump grilled prawns and stretchy thin rotis perfect for scooping the last bit of curry sauce off the plate. The laksa is also exceptional here compared to other Malaysian restaurants I've been too. It's more coconut curry based rather than tomotaey.
The decor is similar to many mid-priced Asian restaurants; a little modern and quite clean.
The food was a little slow to come out as someone mentioned, but the service was at least attentive. Check it out instead of Thai one night. -
Review from Dishan W.
3/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars for me!
Another Baldwin Village favourite of mine! The reason it's missing out on 4 stars is that it's slightly more pricey than I think it should be (it's still not expensive though) and while the food quality here is good, compared to authentic Malaysian food Matahari does not come real close (but you could say that to almost every type of cuisine out there?), so if you are from that region of the world don't have very high expectations, but if it's your first go at Malaysian (or "Chinese, Peranakan (Nyonya), Indian, and Eurasian." to quote their site) it is definitely worth a visit.
The Mee/Nasi Goreng have always been favourites of mine, and for me personally, they are what I consider classic Malaysian food. For a very unique dessert experience, go for the Ais Kacahng (Summer only) I love it, but it is a very random dish which some might not be a fan of. Matahari does do a good job with these and more dishes, but on my first visit the portion sizes were a tad bit disappointing, but since I ordered appetizers and dessert it didn't really matter.
The staff are pretty friendly (have not experienced them go the extra mile yet), the design of the restaurant is very nice and gives off a classy feel (more classy than most other Balwin establishments save Bocca and Bodega). Not a huge fan of the lettering on one side of the wall.
It is a nice date spot like someone else mentioned, I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a different sort of dinner outing! -
Review from Abby R.
Toronto, ON
8/10/2008
This is, by far, one of the best restaurants in Toronto.
You literally need a cigarette after a good meal here, and you might walk out feeling weak in the knees.
It's owner run and operated as well, which is nice. The decor is chic and the place is tiny. No visit to Toronto is complete without swinging by this small but delicious restaurant. They also have a lunch special which is much more affordable. It is DELICIOUS - you MUST go here. The prawns are especially good. -
Review from Andie S.
Toronto, ON
8/5/2011
This restaurant is clean, the service is very professional, and the food is good. I had the mango chicken and I recommend it.
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Review from Zubin D.
Toronto, ON
2/16/2009
I grew up in singapore, so im always looking for good south east asian food and matahari grill really hits the spot. started with the grilled eggplant appetizer which was grilled to perfection and seasoned with spices. i really recommend ordering it. then we had the char kway teow, which was tasty, and the beef rendang, which was subliminal. the meat fell off the bone and seasoned perfectly. caught a glimpse of another tables cashew chicken and it looked deadly, covered with dried chillies, so i know what im ordering next time im back. service was good if not a little hectic. this restaurant would have gotten 5 stars if only the prices were the same as back home, but i think im asking to much.
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Review from allison j.
3/2/2010
The food is good, not great. We'd been here before and decided to try it again. It was good food. Some of it is authentic, some is more fusiony new. I just wanted some blow your mind awesome food, and it isn't that. Just try it and let me know what you think.
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Review from chris s.
Toronto, ON
3/13/2011
fantastic food that's hard to find elsewhere in toronto. service is friendly and fast. slogans on wall are cheesy.
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Review from Tina N.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2009
This restaurant serves mediocre food with VERY sloooww service! They need to hire more waiters or find new ones who are more attentive to customers. Had to wait almost 10 minutes before being seated when clearly the restaurant was not even packed. Appetizers (shrimp satay & clam satay) took awhile to arrive, I would say about 20 minutes which tasted okay, not bad. The main dish I ordered was the Malaysian Chicken Curry with their crispy roti and coconut rice. I thought the curry was a bit on the salty side but maybe some people like that, I was able to side sweep the saltiness by eating the curry together with my rice and drinking alot of water! ( a little spicy). I Ended the night with desserts which were the highlight of my night. Though it almost took another 20 minutes to arrive, I really enjoyed the Penang Crepe and Durian Ice Cream. Yum! But when asked for the bill it took forever to receive! I just think this kind of service is unacceptable no matter how good the food is. this really ruined my night. I would say that, only come to this restaurant if you have a lot of time on your hands.
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Review from John G.
East York, ON
8/15/2009
Went here with a Malaysian friend who told me that this was the most authentic Malay place in Toronto. Only had dessert this time, but I intend to go back for a full meal as the menu and foods look great. Have a small patio and the place was hopping on a Thurday, Summer evening.
